Children who suffer from protein starvation have bloated bellies of ascites (an accumulation of fluid in the tissue spaces of the abdomen). How would a shortage of protein in the diet cause this condition?
What will be an ideal response?
Protein is needed by the body for proper growth, maintenance, and reproduction. If there is a shortage of protein in the diet, the body must turn to itself for a source of amino acids. One of the first proteins to be dismantled for
amino acids is plasma albumin. As the level of albumin in the plasma decreases, so does the osmotic pressure. Fluid that has leaked from the capillaries to the interstitial spaces does not return to the blood because of the decreased plasma osmotic pressure; because of the large vascular network in the abdominal viscera, the majority pools in this region.
You might also like to view...
A person is found to have otitis media. Which cause is least likely to be associated with this health problem?
A. Bacteria B. Viruses C. Upper respiratory infection D. Older age
Which pigment secreted by specialized cells in the skin is capable of absorbing ultraviolet light?
a) Keratin b) Melanin c) Melatonin d) Carotene e) Collagen
Which of the following describes fenestrated capillaries?
A. They have no basal lamina. B. They are found in most organs. C. They are the most common type of capillary in the body. D. They are important in organs that engage in absorption or filtration. E. They allow for rapid passage of large molecules, such as formed elements in the bone marrow.
The shells or orbitals around the nucleus of an atom are also known as
A. Golgi radii. B. resonance particles. C. energy levels. D. satellites.